Tag Archives: science

Rapunzel Science Play-of-the-Day

The story of Rapunzel can inspire a science experiment with hair for a play-of-the-day. All of us can do magic with our very own hair.

Rapunzel is a beautiful baby stolen by a witch. In some versions she is a princess and her hair has magical properties. In others, her mother has become very ill and must eat some rapunzel from the witch’s garden; this is the German word for a plant like spinach or radish. The witch imprisions Rapunzel in a tower and her hair grows and grows. The only way into the tower is by climbing Rapunzel’s hair.

Although she is eventually freed by a prince and the witch is vanquished, Rapunzel then has to rescue him. You can either read this story to kids or tell your own version. In Rachel Isadora’s beautifully illustrated book, Rapunzel has dreadlocks and the prince rides a zebra. Jessica Gunderson writes Really, Rapunzel Needed A Haircut! and tells The Other Side of the Story.

Once you’ve shared the tale of Rapunzel, ask kids if their hair is magical. They might change their minds after this fun.

To do this magic, blow up a balloon and then have your child stand in front of a mirror. Hold the balloon just slightly over your child’s head. Is anything happening? Now, rub the balloon a few times on your child’s hair (or on a shirt) and try again. What does the hair do now? Can your child see and feel it?

This works best on dry days rather than damp ones, but the static electricity that has built up on the surface of the balloon should lift the hair. Not only can kids see it, they can often feel it. Sometimes, the same thing happens when we take off a knitted hat, or pulling a sweater over the head.

With a blown-up balloon ready to go, kids can launch it up into the air and tap it as it floats down. For this fun game, don’t let the balloon touch the ground or the floor. The balloon travels in unpredictable directions so playing this game takes lots of moving around to keep the balloon up in the air. This is best played in a space clear of obstacles because it’s hard to keep an eye on the balloon and not bump into things at the same time.

Rapunzel couldn’t play this game in a tower but can you imagine her hair sticking out all over? Or maybe having balloons stuck all over?

Do you avoid doing science activities with your kids because you think you don’t know enough? You do not need to be a scientist to have fun with kids. We don’t need to know beforehand because a great part of the excitement about science is exploring what happens and we can discover along with kids. Kids are natural scientists because they ask questions about everything and want to try things for themselves. Science also happens when kids wonder…… Continue Reading

Valentines is about friendship and magnets really like certain metals. For valentines, how about a magnet and science play-of-the-day? Since February is still winter in many places, these magnets are frozen in ice. This science fun used ice, magnets, and miscellaneous objects from around the house and the toy box. Some of the magnets were right near the side or the middle at the bottom…some magnets in the center. Will they still work? Does the ice make any difference?… Continue Reading

When walking today, despite our weather being not too cold, the puddles had frozen overnight and a big chunk of ice followed us home for some science fun. First, the kids poked at the ice and talked about it being very cold and freezing. Using another container, we popped in an ice cube from ordinary tap water and let it melt. It didn’t take long to see that the water from the ice cube was clear and the water from the puddle had some dirt and ‘stuff’ in it. How could watching ice melt be exciting?… Continue Reading

While adults have champagne for New Year’s Eve, kids can have their own bubbly with some baking soda and vinegar that absolutely fizzes with fun! o make the bubbly, kids put a big spoon of baking soda in each glass, then they carefully pour in the vinegar. The vinegar bubbles and fizzes up and up, soon…right over the top. For the dancing fun, kids can drop a few raisins into the glass of fizzy liquid. Kids love to explore and create. Isn’t it amazing how this science activity is so appropriate for New Year’s Eve? … Continue Reading

Is a science kit on your child’s wish list for toys? Sometimes, when children get a science kit they need support for how to play and enjoy this toy. In many ways, children already know how to play, and we can grow their play skills and abilities. This makes them more effective learners, or in a word–smarter–through play. Does your child enjoy science play?… Continue Reading